New dawn for men's volleyball

For years, women's volleyball has outshone the men's game in terms of popularity among Filipino fans.

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It’s not just about the glamor but also the finesse with which the volleybelles play. The rallies are longer and more exciting with the women. The men, on the other hand, rely on power, often smashing the ball quickly to a point of no return.

On the collegiate and pro levels, the women overshadow the men. But it’s not as if the men don’t make their game thrilling. Even if the men just try to overpower each other, there’s a lot of strategy and tactics that go with the exchange of hammer blows.

When PNVF and Asian Volleyball Confederation president Tats Suzara made the bold move of bidding to host the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships in Manila this year, there was concern that fans wouldn't come out for the matches particularly as the Philippine team was ranked a lowly No. 88. Alas Pilipinas wouldn't have qualified for a ticket to play but took an automatic slot as host.